People with pre-existing conditions have health insurance options

Those with pre-existing medical conditions that were once denied health insurance can now obtain coverage through the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan.

The new plan, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will provide benefits to Americans who have been without coverage for at least six months and have been denied coverage because of a health condition.

Before the Affordable Care Act, people with pre-existing conditions faced few options for getting health insurance.

"Health coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions has historically been unobtainable or failed to cover the very conditions for which they need medical care," said Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight director Jay Angoff. "The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan is designed to address these challenges by offering comprehensive coverage at a reasonable cost."

In states where HHS will be overseeing the plan, people can enroll today. The remaining 21 states and the District of Columbia will be accepting applications by the end of the summer. The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan will remain in place until 2014, when insurance exchanges are set to be in place.